soul24rage
Senior Member
1000 days of pure happiness
Last edited:
Haraldinho
Well-known member
The smile on Aguero's face is priceless.
And many Argentines already living in NY and Florida and Cali.
Scaloni has wasted the last 3-4 games without blooding players or giving more time to the inexperienced players. My take at the moment selection wise.
I would not choose Otamendi for the WC squad. Thanks for everything you have done your bit cemented yourself into the story of the seleccion but you are not good enough anymore.
Never pick on sentiment Scaloni. Pick on form and fitness. The two sole criteria for any manager to choose a player.
Don't make any silly preformed lists now make them in May when you have had a season of seeing how players have performed. Base it on those performances not matter their age.
You already have the example of Julian, Alexis and Enzo. If we go back into the posts several months before the World Cup we all knew these players despite their youth were in form for their clubs. Still Scaloni only gave them sparing moments preferring to rely on Paredes and Papu. And we all know what happened.
In actual fact those three plus Romero plus Emi (good game yesterday and hopefully returning to form. I would not mind him working with Neil Cutler again his former keeping coach) should be the only five guaranteed names in the 23. Tagliafico & Lautaro probably too and Messi if he decided he is fit a good supersub option not a starter.
The rest it's as Barry Davies up for grabs. Form and fitness. If Scaloni decides to persist with the old core we are going to suffer.
Goalkeeping wise you cannot see beyond Emi, Benitez & Musso. Although Musso really needs to play a few more games.
Left back. Very disappointed with Scaloni. He needs to test Soler & Bernabei. The former also needs to leave Bournemouth as despite Kerkez leaving they have now signed Truffert and he is starting over Soler. So basically his career has come to a halt. I wouldn't trust Barco at all. Simon Escobar is just a kid and hats off to Velez Sarsfield. What an academy they have.
Right back Molina and Montiel. Serviceable I suppose. But Maffeo has been indifferent. It's a weak area. But I would like to see Giay called. Doing really with Palmeiras. Comfortable on the ball being a former midfielder. Built like Zanetti endless stamina and puts in those tackles although he still goes to ground a little too early and Balerdi also tries to over anticipate sometimes which leads to situations where he gets caught out as the forward nicks it past him or rolls him. He should be called up and probably a better crosser than both Molina and Montiel.
Centrebacks. Bye bye Nicolas. Welcome Marcos. If he carries on with this form he too will be leaving Bournemouth. There was a lot of interest in him before he picked up his injury. Also far more dominant in the air which is where we are weak. Cuti is not that strong aerially.
Foyth solid solid player and like Tagliafico who had a career slump showed the mental strength to come back. There was a reason why there were high expectations of him as a kid. Probably rushed off too early to Europe but now maturing into a top class CB.
Anselmino well classy youngster. If he makes sufficient of an impression at Dortmund he should be called. That would be my current four. Balerdi needs to stop being over eager.
Midfield. Varela and Equi have started well despite the farce of a red card last night for Equi. Base of midfield. Anchor and protect. Barreneachea also top quality in terms of defending and also providing aerial dominance. Equi the most creative out of the three. Again if all three have good seasons pick them ahead of Paredes. Perrone on the fringes. Next summer will be energy sapping if it is like this American summer. Palacios sad really but someone so injury prone well I am not sure anymore.
Central well we have Enzo & Mac. Not sure about RdP either to be honest. Hanging onto past glories, Messi's chum not sufficient for me. Almada as well as the creative force. Paz too if he has another good season.
Attacking wise along with Almada & Paz we should wait & see how Franco and Claudio get on although neither is being played where they are naturally effective let alone getting time as with Claudio. Buonnanotte played as an AM for Chelsea but they bypassed him much of the time so he didn't get the chance to show what he can do. Still very slight in build.
Out wide Soule for me. Natural flair and ability. Sure he tries things that don't come off but you should encourage this in young players. He's not slow either. Nico G is solid enough. Simeone is limited as is Garnacho although he kind of provided an assist last night and should have had another. These two aren't skilled like Soule turning inside a phone box but they work hard and offer the option of getting in behind with pace and we have had those sorts of players before like El Hijo del Viento. A useful option to pick one.
Upfront well Julian is maturing into a truly world class player who can do everything upfront. Lautaro well we all know what he can do and his aggressiveness and work rate too. Just leaves a spot for a back up. Again Lopez would be a useful shout mentioned him last year. We have several players in the Brasilerao who are doing really well. Scaloni should make sure he checks them out.
If Scaloni has any sense he will wait until May. He will still have a month to work with the squad and the spine of it will still be strong plus we will have the Atleti connection which also helps.
JamDav1982
Senior Member
Cant see Argies being able to keep up with likes of Spain, Portugal or France.
Think this next WC will be a bit of a damp squib for them.
Would love that not to be the case but there are too many intl sides that are younger and look like have defined system and have much better midfields and pace up top than Argies.
Think this next WC will be a bit of a damp squib for them.
Would love that not to be the case but there are too many intl sides that are younger and look like have defined system and have much better midfields and pace up top than Argies.
soul24rage
Senior Member
Great post, I mostly agree with you on everything. Disappointed with some of Scaloni's selection the past 4 games, which is why I think Oct. will be very crucial.
LB - possibly can go with Ortega from Olympiakos as the LB backup. Won the Conference League, will be playing in the Champions League to have that European experience needed. Soler needs to ask for a loan as Truffert has been playing a lot more. Will be interesting once Baena and Thiago returns from injury how Simeone will deploy Nico G. Could possibly line him up at LB so we'll see. Wouldn't be surprised if Acuna is still picked as he's playing well for River.
RB - I think he has potential but I'm not that having that warm feeling towards Giay, the CWC showed that he still has a lot to learn. Best option would be that Molina leaves in the winter transfer window. Possibly could scout Kevin MacAllister (brother of Alexis) and Union SG will be playing in the Champions League this season. Also already played against Liverpool in the Europa League like 2 seasons ago so he knows a big game. RB is the most worrisome position.
I still pick Paredes but strictly as a sub. He can still make an impact from the bench controlling games and his penalties are clutch.
But definitely in the October Window, Scaloni will definitely need to pick Soule, Senesi and Equi. Senesi will heavily not be picked up I feel like but we do have Lisandro to partner Romero. We'll see how Lisandro is after his injury.
soul24rage
Senior Member
You could be correct. Me personally, think the top teams are more or less even. Luckily for Argentina, there is room for improvement and the steps to achieve that is clear to which I can't forsee the same for other national teams.
Some intangible factors that I feel could go for Argentina
- Squad depth will be more important than ever now that the game is expanded to 8 games total, if you reach the final. It'll be impossible to play the exact 11 in all 8 games. Depending on the yellow card rules for this WC, yellow card suspension will be more important to consider. Argentina's players more or less have the same level of quality as a whole compared to other national team.
- Scaloni - He's tactically flexible and there’s no reliance on a single player or system. We know how the likes of Portugal, Spain and France will play but for Argentina, it's unpredictable. Plus Scaloni is better than De La Fuente and Martinez as a coach.
- Winning mentality - They know what it takes to win the WC. They have faced adversity in blowing leads before coming back to control the game.
- Playing in the US - The team already has experience in the US, travelling, the heat, the pitches, the stadiums and etc. Plus the Argentine fans will dominate the European fans in the WC feeling like a home game.
- Messi’s last international tournament - the players won’t let Messi’s last tournament end in defeat if possible. Also, no team has ever defended the WC since Brazil in 1962 so that'll give them motivation.
JamDav1982
Senior Member
No doubt their motivation will be up but just dont see their squad being good enough this time and I argued for quality of squad last time round when many said it was shite.
Be amazing if they did defend it.
Be amazing if they did defend it.
soul24rage
Senior Member
There are some national team players who will be partaking in the Champions League in not so well followed clubs.
Marseille - Rulli, Balerdi, Medina
vs Real Madrid - 9/16
vs Atalanta - 11/5
vs Newcastle - 11/25
vs Liverpool - 1/21/26
Union Saint Gilloise - Kevin MacAllister (Even though he plays as a RCB in a back 3, he can still play as a RB - potential option at RB)
vs Newcastle - 10/1
vs Inter - 10/21
vs ATM - 11/4
vs Marseille - 12/9
vs Bayern - 1/21/26
vs Atalanta - 1/28/26
Leverkeusen - Palacios, Equi Fernandes, Echeverri, Sarco
vs PSG - 10/21
vs Benfica - 11/5
vs Man City - 11/25
vs Newcastle - 12/10
vs Villareal - 1/18/26
Olympiakos - Ortega (potential option at LB)
vs Arsenal - 10/1
vs Barca - 10/21
vs Real Madrid - 11/26
vs Leverkeusen - 1/20/26
Marseille - Rulli, Balerdi, Medina
vs Real Madrid - 9/16
vs Atalanta - 11/5
vs Newcastle - 11/25
vs Liverpool - 1/21/26
Union Saint Gilloise - Kevin MacAllister (Even though he plays as a RCB in a back 3, he can still play as a RB - potential option at RB)
vs Newcastle - 10/1
vs Inter - 10/21
vs ATM - 11/4
vs Marseille - 12/9
vs Bayern - 1/21/26
vs Atalanta - 1/28/26
Leverkeusen - Palacios, Equi Fernandes, Echeverri, Sarco
vs PSG - 10/21
vs Benfica - 11/5
vs Man City - 11/25
vs Newcastle - 12/10
vs Villareal - 1/18/26
Olympiakos - Ortega (potential option at LB)
vs Arsenal - 10/1
vs Barca - 10/21
vs Real Madrid - 11/26
vs Leverkeusen - 1/20/26
Home of Barca Fans
